New sex-ed texts omitting contraception debated

New sex-ed texts that omit contraception debated

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, September 9, 2004

AUSTIN - High school students in Houston and elsewhere may not learn about preventing pregnancy and disease in proposed new textbooks that teach abstinence exclusively.

The proposed new books were the subject of emotional debate Wednesday during the final of two public hearings before the State Board of Education. More than 300 people signed up to speak about the books, which will be voted on by the Education Board in November.

Critics of the books, which will replace 11-year-old texts, said that they lack a discussion of condoms and contraception in violation of the curriculum requirement that health books "analyze the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of barrier protection and other contraceptive methods."

For example, Holt, Rinehart and Winston'sLifetime Health lists 10 steps for students to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases. The use of latex condoms is not one of them. Students are advised, however, to get plenty of rest.

Supporters of the books said that local school districts have the option to use supplemental materials that discuss ways for sexually active teens to protect themselves from pregnancy and disease.

The Houston Independent School District has an "abstinence-plus" program, which means that classes discuss contraceptives and birth control in middle and high schools, officials said.

The main high school textbook, Making Life Choices, and the teaching stress that abstinence is best to prevent HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. But students are instructed on various contraceptive methods, reliability rates of each and how to access other resources.

HISD emphasized that parents have the right to remove their child from any part of the district's human sexuality instruction.

The district is considering adding or expanding four after-school sex education programs, including one called "Sex Can Wait." Some of the programs are abstinence-only and others are abstinence-plus.

The Austin hearing featured testimony from parents, students, doctors and teachers. One speaker prayed for the removal from office of public officials who support comprehensive sex education.

Outside the state office building where the hearing was held, a dozen people held signs urging motorists to "honk for sex ed."

Several lawmakers were among those testifying.

Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, praised the books for omitting information about contraceptives. He said those decisions should be made by local school boards as the "best way to have parental involvement."

Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, urged the education board to reject all four proposed books as not meeting curriculum requirements.

"It is a sad day in our state when we rank first nationally in the number of teenage pregnancies but we are on the verge of approving health textbooks that do not mention contraceptive methods," Farrar said.

Citing statistics from the Texas Department of Health, Farrar said there were more than 16,000 births to teenage mothers in 2002.

Supporters of abstinence-only programs said they need to be given time to work.

"Years of comprehensive sex education have failed. A double message blurs the direct abstinence approach," said Anne Newman, director of policy for The Justice Foundation, a San Antonio-based group that supports limited government and parental rights.